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How to Organize Multiple OneNote Notebooks Without Folders

Steven Parker Oct 20, 2026 868 views

Question details

Users need a way to logically group and manage multiple notebooks but are unable to place them into standard folders.

How to Organize Multiple OneNote Notebooks Without Folders

Product: Microsoft OneNote
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Managing a large accumulation of personal or business notebooks and trying to structure them logically like standard files in a OneDrive directory.
Observed behavior: OneNote does not currently support placing entire notebooks into traditional folders for organization.

Before you start

Ensure all your current OneNote notebooks are completely synced to your Microsoft account before restructuring or renaming them to prevent accidental data loss.

Solution 1Recommended

Use Section Groups to Mimic Folders Inside Notebooks

Since notebooks themselves cannot be placed in folders, consolidating your separate notebooks into one main notebook and using Section Groups is the best way to achieve a folder-like hierarchy.

A Section Group acts exactly like a folder, but it lives inside a notebook rather than containing the notebook itself. By moving the contents of your smaller notebooks into Section Groups within a 'Master Notebook', you can drastically reduce clutter.

Open a primary Notebook

Launch OneNote and open the primary notebook where you want to consolidate your notes, or create a new 'Master' notebook.

Create a Section Group

Right-click on the empty space next to your existing section tabs at the top (or on the side pane) and select 'New Section Group'.

Name the group

Give the section group a descriptive name, corresponding to the category or project you are organizing.

Move existing sections

Drag and drop your existing sections from other notebooks into this new Section Group to organize them cleanly.

Use Section Groups to Mimic Folders Inside Notebooks

Hierarchy Management: You can create section groups within other section groups, allowing for multiple levels of deep organization.

Solution 2

Apply a Strategic Naming Convention

Use standardized prefixes to naturally group related notebooks together in your notebook list alphabetically.

Solution 3

Submit a Feature Request via the Feedback Community

If folder organization is a critical missing feature for your team's workflow, submit a direct request to the Microsoft development team.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Organize Your Files with Folder Support in WPS Office

If your workflow heavily relies on traditional folder-based organization for your documents and notes, consider using WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, free alternative to Microsoft Office, allowing you to organize your text documents exactly how you want in standard directories on your PC or cloud.

1. Install WPS Office: Download and install the free WPS Office suite on your device.
2. Access File Manager: Open the software and navigate to the 'Files' tab to access your document management system.
3. Create Custom Folders: Click 'New Folder' to create directories, allowing you to categorize your document-based notes with complete freedom.

Organize your text notes and documents seamlessly into standard system foldersHigh compatibility with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint formatsLightweight suite with a familiar user interface for quick adoptionBuilt-in cloud storage for easy file management and syncing

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I put my OneNote notebooks into folders in OneDrive?

OneNote handles its cloud syncing mechanisms differently than standard files. It relies on its own internal notebook structure and proprietary syncing protocols to allow real-time collaboration, which prevents standard OneDrive folder containment.

What is a section group in OneNote?

A section group is a built-in feature that allows you to bundle multiple tabs (sections) together within a single notebook. It acts identically to a folder structure, but it exists inside the notebook rather than organizing the notebook files themselves.

Can I organize notebooks locally on my computer's hard drive?

If you are using the older OneNote 2016 desktop application and storing notebooks locally (not synced to OneDrive), the notebook files are stored within standard Windows folders. However, modern cloud-synced notebooks cannot be organized this way.

Will Microsoft add notebook folders in the future?

While it is a highly requested feature in business environments, Microsoft has not confirmed a release date for placing cloud notebooks into standard folders. Users are encouraged to vote for the feature on the OneNote Feedback Community.

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